Is it a good idea for the non-Bulgarian wife to change her surname if she marries a Bulgarian citizen? In recent years, we have observed a clear trend of an increasing number of Bulgarian men marrying women from countries outside the European Union. Most often, these women are from theContinue Reading
Where to apply for a visa D According to the Visa Ordinance, an application for a long-term residence visa (visa D) must be submitted in the applicant’s country of permanent residence: Applications for long-stay visas (visa D) may be submitted only at diplomatic and consular missions in the applicant’s countryContinue Reading
What to do if you receive a notice that your citizenship application was declined? We receive many distressed calls every day from people who have just been informed that their Bulgarian citizenship application has been denied. Most of these applicants have applied for Bulgarian citizenship by origin. And today, inContinue Reading
Is preliminary approval required for making an investment and coordination with the State Agency for National Security for obtaining a Bulgarian Golden Visa? In this article, we will analyse the Bulgarian Foreigners Law and its implementing regulations. We will answer the question of whether the law actually requires prior approvalContinue Reading
Freelancers and the Bulgarian language problem A renowned artist and our prospective client, a non-EU citizen, plans to relocate to Bulgaria. His artistic achievements are unquestionable. After reviewing the legal options for obtaining a residence permit, the most logical choice for him appears to be the Bulgarian freelance visa. ItContinue Reading
Understanding the current (as per 2026) requirements for establishing a Trade Representative Office Registering a Trade Representative Office (TRO) in Bulgaria was easier in the past. Foreign companies could quickly establish a presence. Representatives of the TRO could obtain residence status more easily. Now, the legislation is much stricter. MeetingContinue Reading
Foreigners who leave their properties in Bulgaria unoccupied risk losing them under current law In recent years, we have been contacted primarily by nationals from the USA, Canada, Australia, and Israel who have lost ownership of their properties in Bulgaria due to one of the country’s most controversial laws. PropertyContinue Reading
How to appeal a visa D refusal Unfortunately, Bulgarian authorities are increasingly refusing to grant D visas. Visas for spouses of Bulgarian citizens are also being refused en masse. The huge number of refusals is also due to Bulgaria’s Schengen accession, due to which the Bulgarian authorities have probably madeContinue Reading
Proving the availability of the funds for the Bulgarian Golden Visa application The advantages of the Golden Visa The Bulgarian Golden Visa, with path to full citizenship after 5 years, has proven to be one of the best EU programs of its kind. With the Golden Visa, the foreigner getsContinue Reading